I feel like Volvo has gotten a bad rap here at InsideEVs. My colleagues, Mack Hogan and Patrick George have had middling experiences with the brand’s latest wares, ranging from catastrophic and non-functional software in the EX90 to straight-up not really liking what the EX30 had to offer the market.
Still, there is a diversity of opinion here at InsideEVs. Some of the things my colleagues love, I flat out don’t like; just ask anyone on our jury about our voting process for the Breakthrough EV of the Year awards. I, for one, generally love screen-based infotainment systems and don’t necessarily mind paying more money for a smaller premium car, two things that haven’t resonated well with most American car buyers and auto journalists.
But Volvo must know it has some work to do to make its electric products a little sharper—and better for the price. For 2026, it’s added two big things to its EX30 subcompact hatchback, or, um, crossover, to broaden its appeal.
First, they’ve lowered the price with a new entry-level model called the Plus Single Motor. Also, they’ve butched up the EX30 with the new Cross Country version, featuring chunky tires and dark-colored trim pieces—both are meant to widen the appeal of a somewhat niche car for Americans. Will it work?
After spending time with both cars for the better part of a week in Los Angeles, I think the answer is yes. But I think one works a little more than the other.
Volvo EX30
2026 Volvo EX30: Specs And Features
Recently, I drove the 2026 Volvo EX30, Volvo’s pint-sized EV meant to be a stepping stone for the brand. The model initially was meant to launch at a featherlight $35,000, thanks to the fact that it was made in China.
But that plan was made years ago. Not long after, then-President Joe Biden slapped stiff 100% tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, and President Donald Trump kicked them into overdrive when it was his turn in the Oval Office.
Gallery: 2026 Volvo EX30 Cross Country
The EX30 hung in limbo for a while, but then Volvo decided to go ahead and send it our way right before its Belgium plant opened up. The trims and equipment were limited, the $35,000 entry-level model was cut, and the promised Cross Country model was also missing in action. So, what most Americans got access to was a subcompact hatchback that stickered for at least $45,000.
To be fair, it had muscle-car levels of power, but its high price and definitely a hatchback design have kept a lot of people out of Volvo showrooms.
Now it hopes the Single Motor Plus and Cross Country EX30 will lure them back in. The single-motor variant cuts about a third of the EX30 dual motor’s 422 horsepower down to a respectably sprightly 268 horsepower. True, 0-60 mph time increases from the staggeringly quick 3.4 seconds to a still-swift 5.1 seconds.
Importantly, the starting price finally falls quite a bit—$40,245 with destination fee—while the range rises to 261 miles.
However, the Cross Country model might be the most substantially changed version of all the EX30 variants. Volvo tweaked quite a bit of the design here, including a topographic-style insert on the front and rear fascias. The suspension has been retuned and lifted by just under an inch (0.75”, to be exact) while the tires have gained a bit more sidewall.
Also, the tow rating jumps to 3,500 pounds for the EX30 Cross Country, up from the 2,000 pounds of the standard trim. These alterations do hurt range, as it drops to 227 miles for the Cross Country model. All of this is yours for $49,445 with destination fee.
Other than those somewhat small stylistic and mechanical differences, the two cars are the same. They use the same Geely/Zeekr/Volvo SEA-1 chassis shared with cars we don’t get here, like the Zeekr X and Lynk & Co Z20. Both even use the same 69 kWh battery, and Volvo says both trims will do the 10-80% sprint on a DC fast charger in about 26 minutes.
2026 Volvo EX30: Driving Impressions
In short, both are great. In an era where literally every EV is a huge crossover styled to look like a much smaller one (cough, cough, Ioniq 5), an EV that isn’t huge is refreshing.
The EX30’s 166-inch length is nearly identical to now-dead subcompacters like the Ford Fiesta or Chevrolet Sonic. The EX30 feels maneuverable and agile, partially because of its size, but also because of its supple (if not stiff) suspension tuning and fast steering ratio.
The Single Motor variant is the more agile variant of the two. Its lower-profile tires and sprightly performance make the EX30 feel downright sporty. It may not have AWD and the face-melting three-second 0-60 time, but the 268-horsepower rear motor feels more than adequate to move the EX30 along with authority.
However, although Volvo markets the EX30 as a crossover, its low-slung driving position and relatively dialed-in dynamics mean that this thing might be the least convincing crossover experience on the market. Personally, I am okay with this, but if you’re in search of a more SUV-like crossover, then you’ll be disappointed by the standard EX30’s car-like driving dynamics.
If you’re looking for something similar to what other small crossovers feel like, the Cross Country would be up your alley. The slight ride height increase, bigger tires and retuned ride do iron out a lot of the standard model’s stiffness.
Also, the Cross Country’s 422 horsepower makes it a rocket; some may say it’s overpowered, but I’ve never been the type to say no to more power. Definitely watch your right foot; like the Zeekr X I drove in China, the EX30 will spin all four tires if given the chance.
I found the interior clever. I liked the storage cubby holes and adjustable cup holder, but the interior plastics felt dramatically low-rent for a car from a premium brand.
The two cars do share the same all-in-one 12.3-inch infotainment screen. Like a Tesla, this single screen houses the car’s speedometer and range computer, but also the music, maps, and other information. It has attracted the ire of plenty of automotive testers: no buttons, tons of annoying reminders. Yet, I didn’t have any issues.
I found the screen responsive and easy to use, but I also know that Volvo has taken a lot of notes from journalists and owners alike. The incessant reminders from the car’s infotainment that Patrick George and Jeff Perez complained about didn’t happen for me. I asked Volvo about this, and its PR staff on hand told me that the car has had a few updates to its software system that addressed the issues that everyone complained about.
2026 Volvo EX30: Pricing And Verdict
The biggest drawback for the EX30 has always been its price. Before the introduction of the single motor variant, the EX30’s $46,600 starting price (and $50,000 price tag with decent options) was a tall ask for such a small car. The Single Motor Plus cuts it down to about $40,000; still not exactly cheap, but far easier to swallow for what the EX30 is offering.
I found the Cross Country’s execution to be great. Its smooth ride and tough attitude add a bit of off-road intrigue to the EX30. But the nearly $50,000 price is an even bigger ask than the non-Cross Country dual-motor model. True, the Cross Country is based on the top-of-the-line EX30, so there are no options missing there, but it’s really a car that one would have to fall in love with to sign on the dotted line.
At $50,000, one could buy a Tesla Model Y or a Cadillac Optiq, and both cars have more range and interior space than the EX30. Between the two variants, the single-motor version is the one that I’d steer buyers toward. Neither car hits hard on the value front, though.
And yet, despite the EX30’s dubious value portion of any of its trims and variants, I still found myself drawn to it. The Optiq or Model Y may be good values, but I didn’t find myself drawn to the driving experiences of either vehicle. I think we should buy the cars we like, and the EX30 is something I liked, even if it has flaws that are straight-up dealbreakers for other shoppers.
For the price, though, flaws can be overlooked. Just ask anyone who has decided to lease a VinFast. Because of this, the single-motor EX30 brings the car back to its intended purpose: reasonably priced electric transportation. However, if your heart desires the EX30 Cross Country, then who am I to say no to love and romance?
Contact the author: kevin.williams@insideevs.com
